Here Comes the Queen: The Cream of the Flower

By Sharon D. Sale

In the year of our Lord, 1722, Queen Sarafina Bellerose ruled the kingdom with two fists of iron, a step ahead of King Cole Victor XIX. Truth is said, the king allowed her all power. It amused him to witness her torturing his many beautiful mistresses. Fact of the matter is, the queen did not cleave beauty in her face, but she clenched in her hand the king's heart, and she sat on his throne.

Behold, then there is Lady Mia Stonebrook, and she will scheme with the devil for her chance to beguile the king, who easily falls prey for many beautiful lady seductive games, and he has had many. The most powerful royal lords and ladies in the kingdom made epic mistakes by misjudging Lady Mia, most so Queen Sarafina.

The royals and the creme de la creme attended many luxurious parties. They dressed in the most extravagant attire to sit together at the most lavish suppers. They reside in gorgeous castles, great houses, country villas, and chateaus, scheming against one another, committing deadly treason, repulsive incest, shocking adultery, distasteful family hatred, and horrifying murder committed in a very sinful, still godly manner, weaved in this story with a surprising twist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662483844

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Here Comes the Queen

The Cream of the Flower

Sharon D. Sale

Copyright © 2023 Sharon D. Sale

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

Names, characters, and incidents is a work of fiction and is the product of the author’s creative powers for imaginary storytelling, and not real. The resemblance or being alike to real events, organizations, or people, alive or dead is purely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-6624-8383-7 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-8384-4 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

Introduction

In the year of our Lord, 1722, Queen Sarafina Bellerose ruled the kingdom with two fists of iron, a step ahead of King Cole Victor XIX. Truth is said, the king allowed her all power. It amused him to witness her torturing his many beautiful mistresses. Fact of the matter is, the queen did not cleave beauty in her face, but she clenched in her hand the king's heart, and she sat on his throne.

Behold, then there is Lady Mia Stonebrook, and she will scheme with the devil for her chance to beguile the king, who easily falls prey for any beautiful lady seductive games, and he has had many. The most powerful royal lords and ladies in the kingdom made epic mistakes by misjudging Lady Mia, most so Queen Sarafina.

The royals and the crème de la crème attended many luxurious parties. They dressed in the most extravagant attire to sit together at the most lavish suppers. They reside in gorgeous castles, great houses, country villas, and châteaus, scheming against one another, committing deadly treason, repulsive incest, shocking adultery, distasteful family hatred, and horrifying murder committed in a very sinful, still godly manner, weaved in this story with a surprising twist.

Chapter 1

Cruel inflictions are promised when the cream of the flower is corrupted by the crown.

Midday 1722

Lord Windford Knottingham sits alone in his sophisticated smoking room. His royal-blue coat is trimmed with the finest fur pelts, a gift from the queen. His legs crossed, his white leggings are shimmering under the woozy candlelight while he lounges enjoying his many riches. Yes, it's true, one doesn't gain the kind of riches he has without risks. However, no one is as smart as him either. He has the knowledge, and he is confident, with his socially extravagant experience to know how to tamper in such high-price business dealings, something he has been doing for many years. Unbeknownst to his smart self, he has been betrayed by his most trusted lawyer, Lord Knott, whom he owes a lot of quid and is slow to pay.

Due to the fact that Windford Knottingham is the king's royal jeweler, he has traveled near and far on the king's behalf for his jewels and leather garments, giving him much favor from King Cole Victor XIX, and that is true facts. He has recently been ousted by his damn brother, who advised the king to have his jewels appraised. That advice has caused Lord Windford soon to be toppled over. It's been brought to the light Lord Windford has sold the king many items that are not authentic, far from it. The king's leather fabrics for making his robes purchased from Stonebrook is vinyl, made from upscale shiny plastics and dyed sheepskins instead of the real expensive buckskins from Spain. A great quantity of the king's gems and crowns are also faux. The diamonds are nothing more than cubic stones, clear quartz, red jaspers, and faux sapphire stones, well made but faux just the same. Many gold and silver pieces are nothing but high-grade golden copper.

One minute Lord Windford is sitting in extreme comfort, smoking the finest cigars, slowly drinking the most sought-after bourbon from his authentic gold cup. The next minute, before he knew what was happening to him, he is being dragged out of his real pointed toe leather boots from his royal Stonebrook great house by the king's men. He is stripped naked for violating the king's trust, orders by the queen. His arse is skinned and ripped to the bone from the flat stones and gravel on the road, while he begged for mercy to see the king to explain his treasonous ways. His head is cut off and burned. Now his wife, Lady Charlotte, and daughter Mia Stonebrook may receive similar punishments.

Three months later, since Lord Windford Knottingham met his fate, his brother and lawyer, noble Lord Knott Stonebrook, finds himself and his family gaining high favor from the Crown by bringing down his own brother and his treasonous ways. Lord Knott's youngest daughter, Safina, has come of age and is finally betrothed to the best-found, fitting, worthy, and well-versed young knight and bachelor from the kingdom this very evening.

The Knottinghams' great house looks to be coming apart and bursting at the seams. The enormous crowded chambers and public areas are filled with domestic workers running rampage. Cleaning women and men are scattered uncontrollable up and down the long, cold hallways, doing their bidding. Not to mention, various and the most popular kitchen cooks putting together the most flavorsome, finger-licking supper fit for a king. God knows a number of others there conducting all sorts of abundant positions, including butlers, kitchen maids, seamstresses, and indoor and outdoor laborers.

Lady Chacma Stonebrook prays day and night of late over her sweet baby daughter, who has a head stronger than a musk ox, to be sixteen in years young. Her daughter is no longer to marry the handsome Duke of Foxwater. Lord knows she is doing the best she can to put that to the back of her mind, considering the close call of disastrous gossip about it that almost was published. Sure, the gossip has been widespread to the privileged class and nobility members in the country, heavens forbid.

Her mind is wrapped up with her daughter's wedding dress now, and she has no time to be pondering over spilt milk. She handpicked her daughter's dress. She ordered her seamstress to reconstruct several designer sleeves and lace collars in order to dress Safina in the finest and stylish dress and accessories scores of quid can buy, just to marry her off to a knight for God's sake. Thanks to the Lord, he comes from the Latulippe family with old money even though he doesn't have any of it. As quiet as it's kept, their money ran out years ago; however, the Latulippe name still stands quite popular with the king.

Lady Chacma tried all she could to convince Safina to accept the Earl of Shallot, who was too eager to offer his hand in marriage with his meager purse and fat belly. Safina threatened to kill herself if she was made to marry that man, the good nerve of her mother to put forward such a thing, no matter the sad urgent situation she finds herself in and no matter if he is said to be kinfolk to the king.

But it is not the girl's fault. Chacma has no one to blame but herself. Her husband, with his hawkish self, sure thinks so.

If that's not enough to give Chacma's heart a push, her oldest girl, Chasity, who is one year older than her sister, has plans to attend the grand party, the most anticipated elegant royal dance of the year, with two chaperones to attend to her this same evening, and she is having fits because her sister is getting all her attention. Lord has mercy on her soul.

How many times she repeated herself and on an evening such as this to Chasity to let her be for now. Once this wedding is put to rest, she will be more than happy to see about her. She only has two hands, and she must keep up with this wedding to its end with no lagging.

Mother, I do declare, I am for sure you are going to put as much sweat over your brow with my affair as you are with Safina's botched marriage, Chasity whines, jerking her long beautiful black hair over her slender shoulder.

I'm glad you are here. Go and fetch Agnes and Lucille, please, and don't dawdle. They better be done by now, or I swear they won't soon forget it, Chacma orders her daughter.

Did you even hear what I said, Mother? Chasity complains with her sweet, soft voice.

At that particular time, in walks Agnes and Lucille both carrying the most glamorous and beautiful white chiffon wedding dress. The dress is designed with a princess high neckline made from silk tulle that can be pulled over for a beautiful veil. The sleeves hang down in many ruffles with strings of white pearls. The waistline is snatched together tight with a braided gold chain. The satin cape has the long train attached, made from white lace from Chantilly, France, very trendy for its time.

Mother! For God's sake, that old crepe, stretchy, itchy material my dress is made from will not do! Chasity screams, batting her long eyelashes at the audacity of the beauty of her sister's alluring and elegant dress.

Chasity, please, your material came from Egypt. It's the best of its kind. Leave me be. I'm disenchanted with you right now. Chacma turns, fixing her eyes on her oldest daughter.

Without another word, Chasity made her way fast around her mother and out of her sister's chamber, disillusioned and fed up, not paying any attention where she was going with tears in her eyes. Her foot got hooked in a loop of ribbon from one of her sister's new shoes recently delivered by the shoemaker. She ended up falling to the floor and twisted her small ankle, causing shooting pains in her foot.

Dear Lord, girl, why are you smashing your sister's shoes? Chacma scolded her daughter.

Chasity gave her mother a sidewise glance and paid no notice to what her mother is talking about right now. She attempted to stand and put weight on her foot, but it was too painful.

Once Chacma is assured her daughter was truly hurt, it is when she quickly summons the in-house physician. Chasity sits on the hardwood mahogany floor shining like gold from the best finish and wax job recently done by the many floor maids, bawling her eyes out. Not because she sprained her ankle but because it appears her circumstances are now affecting her plans to attend the most famous and popular party of the year.

Not any old, stiff party, Chasity has been looking forward to attending this party since she was twelve. Finally, she's old enough to attend without her mother and father. Not to mention she has her very own invitation and chaperones. Most of all, her father made it possible for her to be chauffeured in one of his most elegant carriages.

Chacma finally got her nuisance and spoiled daughter to settle down a bit and put her to bed. The physician gave her a mild sedative, a pinch of opium. The effects from the sedative numbed the pain in her ankle and gave her a calm about herself. So it's now official. Chasity will not attend the party she so hoped and dreamed to attend tonight, and she will miss her sister's wedding this evening as well.

Lucille, be certain to take Chasity's dinner to her bed before long. She is not to get up and risk reinjuring her ankle. Chacma hurried back to finish the last details with Safina's dress. Time is drawing near.

Yes, my lady, Lucille quickly answered.

Oh, and those two chaperones I've already paid for, have them attend to Chasity in her chambers tonight and have a guard posted at her door. There will be many people in the house roaming around, no doubt. I won't take another chance leaving my daughter unprotected, like I foolishly did with her sister, Chacma said over her shoulders as she disappeared from Lucille's sight.

Yes, my lady, right away, my lady, Lucille made clear she understood.

Once Chacma finally made it back to see about Safina, she was nearly dressed, and she is now having a hissy fit.

Mother, what in heaven's name took you this long? Safina made mention as she is pulled and jerked from one side to another by Agnes and several other chambermaids.

How splendored you look, my girl. Now I need you to relax and settle down. It's your wedding day, and I want you happy. Chacma took over from Agnes and finished fastening up the tiny pearl buttons in the back of Safina's dress.

What's wrong with Chasity now? She is determined to ruin this day for me because of her stupid party, Safina complained to her mother.

Pay no mind to your sister. She will not be a bother to you for now. She's hurt her ankle and is already in bed.

What? What do you mean already in bed? Wild dogs won't keep that girl from that party tonight, Mother, Safina added without taking a breath.

I pray for her. She will heal quickly, but it won't be this evening. I'm afraid she's not in good condition to attend her party. She can barely walk. Chacma is feeling sorry for her oldest.

Jamerson Foxwater is standing in the back of the large beautiful banquet hall in the Knottinghams' great house. His drink is nice and stiff. He's waiting on the wedding to start. It's already running an hour late.

Maybe the lady has changed her mind. If she has, it would save him from what he is about to do. At any rate, he will keep his distance from her mother. Lord knows she will not be pleased to see him after what he did relating to Safina. As he continued to wait, he took notice of the room full of the single aristocrats, lords, and ladies of nobility, with power and money in attendance.

Surely most of them are not here to support this false of a marriage. These people are here only for Lord Knott's benefit. That is what's challenging him tonight. He must make certain he has his plans perfectly carried out if he wants to get out of here with Safina without having his head taken off by her mother.

Anyway, it's hard for him to believe she is being married off to someone too low for her taste, all because he had a night alone with her. He did indeed sneak her away from her supervisors that night with Mistress Mia's help, a big mistake. Being drunk around beautiful maidens is not his strong point.

He is thankful for his father, Lord Robes Foxwater, who demanded for him to break his unarranged betrothal with the girl because he was found out by some maid he and Safina laid together. In fact, he was there with her overnight without her chaperones. Now he is here to beg her forgiveness in public in front of all these noblemen and women to beg her back and marry him and not some lonely knight for the sake of Safina's mother, Lady Chacma.

The truth of the facts, Jamerson's plan is simply to break this marriage up and make Safina think he wants her back. It is all her father's personal and tasteless plans. Lord Knott has strong reasons against Knight Novosad Latulippe, and he doesn't want him to marry his daughter. It's all Lady Chacma's fault. All she wants is for Safina to have a husband, not knowing who she's about to marry the girl off to.

That's the true reason Jamerson is here to steal Safina away from the altar, and his love for her doesn't have anything to do with his reasons. Now Safina's Mother has put this circus together in record time. His scheming with Lord Knott to save Safina from this wedding is quite obscene.

Just then he spots his childhood friend, the princess of Bellerose. Things seem to be getting more complicated for him. Now he must go make his pleasantries with Lavina. He knows without a doubt it's her. She sits in a private area behind pink and silver curtains that separate her from the crowd. Not to mention her many chaperones and guards who attend to her every beck and call, and she has many.

Before he could make his way over to make his polite remarks to Lavina, he is stopped by none other than Sir Novosad Latulippe and his extremely bad-mannered, overly serious brother Sir Phillip.

I do pray to know why in God's name are you here, man. Haven't you done enough damage to this family? Novosad Latulippe said in a defending manner. No matter what gossip says, he has much honor of respect toward the Knottinghams.

Well, sir, I'm here to witness your wedding to Safina. Why else would I be here? Jamerson has little bending for this man's words.

Our concerns precisely, why else would you be here? Do yourself a favor. Leave this place at once, Sir Phillip intervened, walking around his brother, looking at Lord Jamerson face-to-face.

Not until my business is done here. Now I have pressing greetings I must attend to. Good day, gents. Jamerson walks away from them two pennyworths with a smile across his face. He's headed straight to see Lavina.

Soft music has started to play. The lights are dimmed down a bit. The servants walk around the room collecting empty champagne and whiskey glasses and collecting the many delicate plates the delish, dainty, nectarous hors d'oeuvres were served on. Jamerson took notice the Knottinghams' spared nothing for a faux wedding. It's obvious. They are really overdoing it to make it believable. Before he could make his way through the princess's crowds of guards, he is being ushered to take his chair. The time has come for the wedding to begin finally. He decided to give up on trying to get to Lavina. He took himself back to his chair in the back of the room in hopes to remain incognito, except for the Latulippe brothers.

Jamerson, I thought I saw you earlier talking with the Latulippes, Chasity whispers in his ear. She is being pushed around in a rolling chair by two women, who are looking quite nervous.

Good gracious, what in the world has happened to your foot? Jamerson asks as he stood up to greet her properly.

I took a spill and twisted my ankle, but I will not miss my sister's wedding. My question to you is what in the world are you doing here? Chasity looks confused but excited to some degree.

That seems to be the question of the night. Again, to witness Safina's wedding, Jamerson lied. I have a question for you. Aren't you supposed to attend the grand party tonight? He's looking at her foot all wrapped up and stretched out looking quite painful too.

Please don't be rude. You see I won't be able to go. For heaven's sake, I can't even stand on my foot. I only took this chance against my mother's orders to see my sister married, Chasity said sadly.

Really? Come on, Chas, you know good and well this is a big falsehood, an illusion only for appearances, and it's all because of me, allowing my father to rule over my affairs. Big mistake on my part. Jamerson made it clear to keep up with his plans.

I'll say so. I know you have some foolishness up your sleeve. Let me warn you, do not meddle in this wedding. My mother will not take too kindly to it, Chasity told him seriously.

With that said, Chasity quickly commanded her chaperones to roll her to the front of the banquet hall. She realizes many of the nosey ladies are all whispering in one another's ears, no doubt about her. They all are jealous, she thought, and probably very happy to see she will not be at the party to give them all competition.

I can't believe you refuse to walk your own daughter down the aisle, Chacma whispers in her husband's ear with a stiff chill in her voice.

Watch your tone with me now. You of all know perfectly well why. She's lucky I'm here in attendance at all. Lord Knott Knottingham took his chair on the front row, sitting next to his oldest girl.

You know how weak she can be. She might faint before she makes it all the way down here. If you leave her to fend for herself, every bride needs her father to prop her up, Chacma said as she flopped in a chair right next to him, barely noticing Chasity.

Still your tongue, wife. My rule is made. Now let's get this wedding done with. You spoke for with such creed, but now it will be put at my feet.

Suddenly, the wedding music echoed in the great banquet room. The large, stylish wrought iron with redwood double doors swung open slowly at the end of the aisle.

Knight Novosad Latulippe, with his light-brown hair parted down the middle of his head, and his brother Phillip had already entered from a room located from behind the altar. The two stood next to the very religious Archbishop Paul, who was dressed in his best robe. The room fell very quiet, waiting to finally see the bride in all her glory. But the gossip about this great house's private affairs will wait for now, and there is much to chatter about, considering Lord Knott and Lady Chacma have already taken their chairs even before the ceremony started, very unusual.

Jamerson felt the chill air flow through the room with a scent of sweet smells of flowers when the double doors stretched out wide open. He can see from his chair the many bridesmaids and groomsmen getting ready to make their way to the entrance. The groomsmen and bridesmaids first in line stood outside of the double doors. Two couples side by side walked in slowly, and soon after, six more couples followed in behind them and proceeded to walk the long walk to the altar. The groomsmen stood behind Latulippe and his best man, his brother. All the ladies stood opposite of the men.

The gorgeous maid of honor, Lady Juliette Tovar, now standing in the doorway, took a confused look at Jamerson, who sits almost in the aisle. As Juliette passes him by, she gives him a black look, trying not to be conspicuous. Following close behind Juliette is five of the cutest little flower girls and two little handsome ring bearer boys.

Finally, after they all took their places at the altar, everyone got on their feet as Safina walked into the doorway. She stood there while Agnes and Lucille adjusted the long train behind her dress. Jamerson also stood up, a few feet from her. She stole his breath away, and she's looking so dearly lovely. Everyone in the huge banquet hall eyes were fixed on Safina, but all of a sudden, all eyes are now switched and fixed on Jamerson as he walks in front of her, blocking her way to the altar.

These vows you mean to take in this place is meaningless. Jamerson bent down and whispers in her ear as she looks back up at him with much fright.

Behave, sir, and get off my aisle. What's meaningless is your words, and they are stinging my ears, Safina managed to say, still looking up at him.

Marry me, my lady, my young sweet one, Jamerson told her, knowing he didn't mean what he says, giving her heart a jerk. He bends his long, lean leg down on one knee.

Safina is getting heated in her dress and about to have a breakdown. She drops her bouquet of flowers so attractively bunched up and wrapped with long strings of white pearls to the floor.

Tell me you love him, and I will leave you be, never to bother you again. Jamerson stood up, taking her lovely gloved hands in his.

He bends back down and kisses her sweet, shiny strawberry lips right then and there, and that's when all hell broke loose.

I love you, sir, Safina whispers as she looks at him with such graciousness.

You dirty bastard, is all Jamerson heard as both the Latulippe brothers came charging down the long aisle toward him.

That's when he picked up Safina and left that place headed to the nearest exit. He had his chickens in a line because his expensive Hackney carriage is waiting and ready to go.

He and Safina are already down the road, long gone before the Latulippe brothers made it out of the great house. Her grand wedding dress train is hanging out of the carriage, dragging down the muddy road.

Jamerson took out his knife and cut away the beautiful, expensive fabric from her dress, sending it flying in the wind, making it easier for them to get away. They rode on down the road and disappeared into the foggy, cold, and wintery night, headed to Timbuck Rock Castle for God's sakes.

Chacma is fit to be tied. What has just happened? And where in God's name did the duke of Foxwater come from? Not to mention, he kidnapped her youngest on her wedding day, right from under the noses of every one of these people, including them, to witness. Good God Almighty!

How can you laugh in such a moment as this? Chacma asks her husband, surprised at him and his behavior. He's not on her side at all.

This couldn't have happened at a better time because I have another affair to attend. Lord Knott told his wife as he took a goat's leap around her and walked down the aisle, kicking away white flowers beneath his feet.

Go on and run to your mistress, sir. I'm amazed even at you. I need you, and what about Safina? Chacma shouted, causing several ladies near to take notice.

Lord Knott paid her no attention. He continued to walk and kick flowers all the way from her and out of the double doors. Many of his guards followed behind him, and that was that.

Mother, please, don't make a scene here with Father. It's bad enough already. I had a feeling Jamerson was up to something, but Lord, I had no idea he would kidnap her, Chasity told her mother, taking her attention from her father.

You knew he was here? Chacma whirled around to face her oldest girl.

Everyone in this room knew he was here, Mother, she quickly answered.

Good God, do I have anyone on my side? Chacma said to herself.

It is true he has a mistress; it has never been a secret. Fact is, Lady Mia Stonebrook is his niece and a favorite of his ever since she came to live in his house some three months now. He has no purpose to give her up because his wife gives him her nagging reasons as to why he should. Chacma spends more time of her own with the girls, and when she's not cooing over them, she's cooing over her grand and decorative pillows, smelly soaps, and rubbing oils she makes for Queen Sarafina in the kingdom. Lady Chacma is a very lusty woman but with not much beauty. However, it was a time Knottingham had the urge to visit her rooms at night.

She's steadfast not to attend him with her womanhood favors when he does give her attention. He stopped begging her for it years ago.